The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-21

lt'would doubtless be a vain quest
to seek, nowadays, for a single repre-
sentative of this defunct race of duel
lists. race to which Choquart evident
ly belonged. He must have had an
cestors among the eXquisites of the
reign Of Louis Kill, the swash-buck-
lers OF the Hotel de Royaumont, or the
splendid corps of muskctcers of Louis
XIV. Choquart's mania for dueling,
his ever-recurring provocations to de-
eide a difference at the swords point
made of him a public character; and
his reputation was perhaps heightened
rather than diminished by the fact
that his most terrible challenges were
unable to withstand the Offer of a
peaceful solution over bowl of punch.
His guileless talk and southern accent
his peculiar way of lisping and other
physical oddities, gave to his daily
Odyssey a smack of the most genuine
comic buffoonery.
When the mania for fighting was
S'lOiS "lIhlu MIN IL was ulliSuiI w
evade his mood. One day he would
enter a cOffee-house, take his seat and
say to a near neighbor:
"After you, the Figaro, please
"Sir," the other would politely re-
spond, "it is not the Figaro, but the
Constitutional that am reading"
"Oh! you would give me the lie,
would you? Take care, sir, or, by
Heavens! I'll teach you better man.
ners."
On another occasion he would intro
duce like scene after this fashion:
"Now, don't keep staring at me in
that offensive way, pleased!
"I,n expostulated the customer
Lord bless me, sir, didn't even see
you. was looking the other way"
"Oh! then am liar, am l?" And
Choquart would rise from his seat in a
threatening attitude.
Even the most peaceful persons could
scarcely put up with such insolencc.
They felt like tucking up their sleeves
and knocking Choquart down. Nor
did he fail, at times, to meet with his
deserts. He more than once stumbled
on Tartar. His best known scrape
that way is worth relating. Choquart
one day entered courtyard to chal-
lenge a mastcr-buildcr, who was pump
ing water at n fountain. The master
builder looked up surprised, caught
hold of Choquart by the scrulf of his
neck, doubled him up, put him under
the pump, and souscd him like a dead
rat.
The story of Choquart's adventures
would fill volume, but | will relate
only one, wherein | acted as his sec
Ond.
One night, at masked ball, Cho-
quart quarrelcd with n Turk. Cards
were exchanged. The following day,
Choquart, with his two seconds, went
to his advcrsary's house. The Turk OF
the previous evening turned out to be
a wcll-to-do upholsterer, who carried
on business IN the Saint-Martin quar-
ter. On entering the premises, Cho-
quart inquired after NJ Ballu.
"What can do for your asked n
young and pretty woman, who came
forward from the back of the shop.
STUFF and nonsense! l don't like
iokingin matters Of serious importance.
My name is Choquart. | come for an
affair of honor. a gentleman shouldn't
be made to wait in this manner. 1oul
husband is an ill-brcd dog"
"Oh, excuse me, now ] know what
brings you. This is what have to say.
My husband went out yesterday tc
spend the carnival, and it has made
him i'll. He is in bed, and spits blood. "
Dear me-" remarked Choquart,
turning toward his seconds, 'what Il
mischance! He spits blood, did you
sayP"
"Alas! yes SIR" answered the young
woman, who seemed much affected,
and the doctor says that he has not sin
months to live"
"Dear mcr' went on repeating
Choquart, splitting blood. How shall
we settle matters, thcnP Hasn't si>
months to live. Well, madame, Tn
not a bad fellow. whatever others may
think. Now, listen to what have tC
say. We are in January, aren't wei
just so. Well, I'll give your husband
six months to be buried in. Ishall cal
around and pay my respects six months
hence. If, in July next, your husband
isn't dead and buried, I'll treat him al
knave and deceiver, and placard hi
name in all the barracks of Paris"
| Thin thrnnt which cnnetnntlY fol